As Malcolm Gladwell notes in “Outlier,” to be an expert at anything you must spend 10,000 hours doing it. He uses numerous examples of individuals that are at the top of their profession or vocation and researches their journey to this perfection to determine that they really did put in an extensive amount of hours to practice and perfect their expertise–they practiced their art for 10,000 hours. Think Steve Jobs, Michael Jordan, etc.
I admit it! I have the Fitbit rage. I, like many thousands of others, track my daily steps to determine if I am getting enough activity to take care of myself. I have a goal of 10,000 steps per day and, like many people, carry one of these connected devices to count mu steps and activity each day. This Fitbit journey I take daily takes focus every morning and every night for me to get my 10,000 steps. If I don’t start off my day with my regular “run” and this combined with just ordinary steps at daily activities AND then get in an evening walk, I will never get to my 10,000 steps per day. It takes focus.
I have been thinking about this recently as I go through my morning run and morning prayers with God. I am thankful that I have the health to get out and exercise and the diligence to get up and out of the house to get in my morning steps. However, I have been thinking about how I can get in my “10,000 steps” in my walk with God. I must admit that this needs more focus and diligence. I need to refocus my daily faith-needs and getting in this walk with God daily.
Maybe a way to focus is the following hymn–Just a Closer Walk with Thee:
Just a closer walk with Thee, Grant it, Jesus, is my plea, Daily walking close to Thee, Let it be, dear Lord, let it be. I am weak, but Thou art strong; Jesus, keep me from all wrong; I’ll be satisfied as long, As I walk, let me walk close to Thee. Through this world of toil and snares, If I falter, Lord, who cares? Who with me my burden shares? None but Thee, dear Lord, none but Thee. When my feeble life is o’er, Time for me will be no more; Guide me gently, safely o’er, To Thy kingdom shore, to Thy shore. Just a closer walk with Thee, Grant it, Jesus, is my plea, Daily walking close to Thee, Let it be, dear Lord, let it be.
Are you getting in our 10,000 steps of exercise with your God?
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